January 13, 2016
Opportunity
C ontinued froM P age 3
The half dozen individuals run
the gambit in terms of profession-
al services and products. They in-
clude James Pritchett, founder and
chief executive of Morebots, who
has created books for children that
use an app to make reading more
interactive.
A father of children who love
to read, Pritchett says he wanted
to help his children enjoy reading
in a way they might find more in-
teractive. His books allow readers
to find more behind the books he
writes and illustrates through an
app that scans the images. Chil-
dren can learn about anatomy and
health, for example, in a book he
designed for Providence Health
called “Much, Much Better,”
about an aging family member
who suffers chest pains. Students
and their parents can come to their
own conclusions about health,
diet, exercise, sleeping patterns by
answering questions about their
own habits.
Other ideas coming forward
include Daunte Paschal Sr. and
Brian Rhone’s new network
called ShopHoppn that connects
professionals who are traveling
with higher-end barbers in town.
A black barber himself, Paschal
has worked as a hair stylist with
Nike for events like the National
Basketball Association’s All Star
weekend and other large media
events where athletes want to look
their best.
Other exciting and different start
ups include Poda Foods – started
by a pair of Yale graduates who
breed and raise crickets for hu-
man consumption (think protein
shakes and powders), and other
luxury goods. There’s the bespoke
suits designed by couple Jeremy
Roberts and Mihal Freinque, who
are innovating the process of fit-
ting suits by designing something
called a “fit bod” where clients can
be quickly and precisely measured
in less than 30 minutes.
Chaunci King, another PDX
Challenge winner, brings her
pear-infused vodka called Royalty
Spirits to the table, as she works
her way up from bartending to
brand making. Brian Carter, a
young man who is hard of hearing
and wears two hearing aids, one in
each ear, comes to the commission
with an idea to mold earbuds to in-
dividual ears to improve the way
people hear, everything from mu-
sic to speech and everyday sounds.
He is hoping to work through the
giving strategy, donating one pair
of earbuds for every one sold.
To learn more about this year’s
winners, or to think up what your
application might be next year,
visit pdc.us/for-businesses/busi-
ness-programs/startuppdxchal-
lenge.aspx.
M artin L uther K ing J r .
Page 7
2016 special edition
James Pritchett, chief executive
officer of a new company called
Morebots, demonstrates his
creation of books for children
that use an app to make reading
more interactive. He is one of the
half dozen startup companies
receiving help from the Portland
Development Commission in an
effort to increase minority wealth.
Photo by o livia o livia /
t he P ortland o bserver